Immigrants to Canada

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Immigration Report 1870

This information is taken from the Sessional Papers, 34 Victoria 1871 (64)

• Out of the 44,475 immigrants who landed at Quebec during the year 1870, 35,073 sailed from ports in the United Kingdom; and of these, 31,747 came by the regular lines of steamships.
  
  The employment of Steamships in conveying emigrants from the United Kingdom to North America, has greatly increased within the past few years. In 1863 the proportion of those who took passage in steamships to Canada, was only 45.85 per cent; in 1865, it rose to 73.50 per cent; in 1867 it further increased to 93.16 per cent; and in 1869, it still further rose to 94.99 per cent. In 1870 it was 90.51 per cent.
  
  The advantage to the emigrant arising from the use of steam instead of sailing vessels, is very great, although the cost of passage is much higher. Besides making a very great saving of time, a steam vessel brings a cargo of emigrants to port in a far better condition of health than a sailing vessel, and thereby lessens the danger of epidemics, as well for the emigrants as for the country which receives them. This important result is illustrated by the fact that the sickly passengers landed at Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, are almost invariably taken from sailing vessels, especially after long voyages.
  
• the arrivals of emigrants in the Maritime Provinces, which have never been numerous, show a decline in 1870, as compared with 1869; in Halifax, N.S., this is very trifling, but in St. John, N.B., it is more than half; the arrivals in Halifax in 1869 being 448 and in 1870, 437; and in St. John in 1869, 456, in 1870, 219. With respect to St. John it is, however, to be remarked, that the immigrants in 1870 are reported to have been bonâ fide settlers, while formerly that port was for the main part one of call, three-fourths of all those entering there, going on to the United States.
  
• The advantages offered by the Dominion of Canada as a favorable field for settlers, appear to have excited interest in Great Britain. This fact is manifested by the action of numerous societies, which have been organized for the purpose of promoting emigration, and from the appearance of numerous pamphlets and other publications.
  
  The Reports of the London Emigration Agent (Mr. Dixon) give an account of the organization and operations of a number of the Emigration Societies which have been formed in England. One of these, the "National Emigration League," sent in February, an influential deputation to wait on the Premier, with the object of soliciting public aid for promoting emigration. The deputation was introduced to Mr. Gladstone, by the Duke of Manchester, the President of the League.
  
• During the summer the Revd. A. Styleman Herring, incumbent of St. Paul's, Clerkenwell, London, who is very actively connected with the "Clerkenwell Emigration Society," came to the Dominion to learn from the immigrants themselves their opinions respecting their adopted country, and whether it would be advisable to assist others. He visited many parts of Canada, and received a very favorable impression, as well on condition of the newly arrived settlers, as of the country itself. This fact he has published in numerous letters to leading newspapers, and in public lectures, as also in a trade distribution in which are inserted extracts from letters of settlers, showing that they exchanged a state of want and misery for one of well-being.
  
  The Clerkenwell Emigration Society assisted 746 persons to emigrate to Canada between April and August; and Mr. Herring personally saw that, with insignificant exception, they were all doing well.
  
• The Revd. Father Nugent, Chaplain of the Borough Gaol of Liverpool, also visited Canada during the summer, and went to various points. He delivered a number of lectures when here, in favor of an emigration of boys from the streets of large towns in England to this country.
  
• Miss Macpherson came to this country last summer, with a number of boys whom she personally saw placed in situations. She brought out altogether 264. These had been picked off the streets, and from the "dens" of London; they were without parents or relatives who cared for them; and were placed during the winter, in the "Refuge Home of Industry" in Commercial Street, Spitalfields, London, where their wants were provided for, and where they were educated and trained to habit and industry.
  
  These boys were easily placed in situations on their arrival in this country and there have been numerous testimonies of their good behavior and usefulness. The County of Hastings officially offered Miss Macpherson a "Distributing Home" free of charge the management of which would be placed entirely in her hands, provided she made that locality her point of distribution. She was also assured of the hearty co-operation of the individual members of the County Council. She accepted the offer, and the "Distributing Home" is now in operation.
  
• Miss Rye, in the same way as Miss Macpherson, has frequently visited this country bringing with her girls in considerable numbers, whom she has placed in situations in different parts of the Dominion. Last summer she brought 253. With little exception they are reported to have done well.
  
• Mr. Thomas Connolly, a delegate from working men's societies in London, has spent considerable time in the country in order to see its capabilities, climate and general fitness as a field of immigration for working men; and he will report his impressions on his return to England.
  
• The "British and Colonial Emigration Fund," presided over by the Lord Mayor, and managed by a highly influential Committee, assisted, between the months of April and August last, 5,082 persons to come to Canada; and it has since published favorable accounts of the welfare of these emigrants.
  
  The "Family Emigration from the East of London" Committee, of which the Hon. Mrs. Hobart is Treasurer, assisted to this country 974 persons, by the Allan steamships, between the months of April and September, 1870. From letters received in London they appear to have done well; and Mrs. Hobart is again asking subscriptions to continue her benevolent operations in 1871.

It may be remarked that these figures do not altogether agree with those published in the reports of the societies. The latter show a larger number than the Dominion Immigration Agent, at Quebec, records as having arrived.

• The whole of the above (with the exception of 38 souls, who were sent out by Lady Hatherton, whose passages were paid through to Toronto, and 38 children and 2 single women of Miss Rye's last log, who went to St. John, N.B.) Were assisted with free transport by the Department.
  
  The sum of £1841 16s. 11d. sterling, equal to $8,963.60 was remitted out to me by the British and Colonial Emigration Fund, and £388 5s. sterling, equal to $1,889.19, by the Hon. Mrs. Hobart's Committee, for the use of the people sent out by them, which was paid to them on arrival.
  
  The dockyard laborers and mechanics sent out in H.M.S. transports, received the sum of 10s. sterling per adult, and 5s. each child over one year of age from the paymasters of the vessels.
  
  The assisted people of this year were, generally speaking, of a better class than those of former years. They were well selected, the heads of families, all in the prime of life, and many of the male and female children old enough to take situations as farm servants, &c. At present, when labor of all kind is in such demand, their accession must prove a great benefit to the country. A considerable number of those from the British and Colonial, the Hon. Mrs. Hobart and the Rev. Mr. Herring, were the wives and children of people assisted in former years, coming to join their husbands, many of whom remitted money home to assist the emigration of their families.
  
  Those assisted from Aberden, Paisley, &c., through Mr. Shaw, were going to the Eastern townships, near Lake Megantic, where there is a Scotch settlement, and where arrangements had been made to receive and provide them with immediate employment. I am informed they are now all provided with farms and log houses, and have made considerable progress in clearing land for Spring operations.
  
• Hospital returns shew eighty-one (81) as having been admitted by ticket from this agency. Two (2) deaths have occurred; no epidemic diseases have been reported during the year.
  
• Three deaths--infants--have been reported as occurring in railway trains; for burial expenses, small calls have been made on me.
  
• Miss Macpherson arrived in Montreal from England on the 25^th May, with emigrant boys. Twenty-three (23) found employment here, and, as I understand, have given satisfaction to their employers.
  
• Emigrants From Europe To Canada Via United States: Last year, I took occasion to express my opinion on this matter. A sense of duty forces me to say that persons emigrating from Europe--and more especially authorities directing their shipment--should be warned of the difficulties in the way of the poor inexperienced stranger who endeavors to make his way to Canada through the United States. What proportion of the numbers taking this route succeed in arriving at the proposed end of their journey, it would be impossible to say. The few whom I see relate to me the insurmountable difficulties of others. In a word, the United States Government Immigrant authorities in New York have anything but an unprejudiced interest in giving honest advice or information to strangers wishing to pursue their route to Canada, and (from what I see) are strongly disposed to throw obstructions in their way--else why, when an immigrant holds a ticket to Montreal, should he be systematically (as I believe), and with unnecessary expense and delay, sent by way of Buffalo and elsewhere 600 or 700 miles out of his route? Not to reiterate what I said in my last Report, I would humbly suggest reference to it, as my further experience of the past season strongly confirms what I then said. This advice is earnestly given--all immigrants to the Dominion should come by the St. Lawrence route, they will find no annoyance or vexation (not incident to their inexperience ) from the moment they reach shore, and will receive disinterested advice and assistance, and such aid as charitable societies on the one side of the Atlantic, and the Dominion Government on the other, have provided for their behalf; they will meet with no delay in event of wishing to pursue any predetermined course, nor can they, when acting under advice of a Dominion agent, be swindled or misinformed.
  
• (New Brunswick): Forty orphan girls, brought out by Miss Rye, have been provided with comfortable homes. They arrived at Quebec in the steamer "Peruvian," and were conveyed by the Grand Trunk Railway to Portland, and thence by steamer to St. John. The number fell short of the demand. The expense incurred in their transport and maintenance, was defrayed by the Local Government.
  
  New Brunswick comprises an area of 17,347,360 acres; 7,584,497 have been granted or located; leaving 9,762,863 vacant. There are now surveyed and laid off in 100 acre lots, 231, 162 acres which are ready for settlers. This surveyed land comprises blocks in nine counties, is easy of access, and the soil is well adapted for agricultural purposes.
  
• The arrangements made by the Montreal Steam Company for the comfort and convenience of the emigrants in transit have been in every respect satisfactory, and I have not received a single complaint. The price of passage for the season was £6. 6--each adult--children under eight years half price--but a reduction was made for those sent out by charitable institutions--the rate charged being £4. 10. A few complaints have been received of ill-treatment on board the vessels of other owners, but they were of little moment, and I have taken steps to prevent a recurrence of the alleged grievances.

For more information on some of the ships which sailed from Europe check out http://www.museumsnett.no/mka/ssa/

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© Marjorie P. Kohli, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 1997-2003
Last updated: April 17, 2003 and maintained by Marj Kohli